“The PIT Experience”: A Young Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder’s Opinion of how a Wellness Program Changed her Life

Piece it Together (PIT) is a comprehensive wellness program designed for transitional age youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and mild neurodevelopmental disabilities that focuses on exercise, nutrition, socialization, and stress-reduction. The PIT Summer Program is a 6-week program, consisting of 90-min classes, twice a week. Each class incorporates 45-min of exercise and health and wellness lessons in goal setting, nutrition, bones and muscle anatomy, and stress management. The PIT program has successfully brought together a unique group to build friendships and make healthier lifestyle choices. One female participant has felt positively impacted and many of her in-class achievements have translated to greater success in work and school environments. She describes the impacts of the PIT program in this letter.